Heating apparatus



May 6, 1958 T. J. KENNY HEATING APPARATUS Filed May 2, 1955 IN V EN TOR.720/7755 Jjf flfij, BY

A TTORNEY United States Paten HEATING APPARATUS I Thomas J. Kenny,Elkins Park, Pa. Application May 2, 1955, Serial N 0. 505,337 6 Claims.(Cl. 219-34) This invention relates to heating apparatus, and moreparticularly concerns heating devices that .are used to heat passengerrailroad cars. A

More specifically, this invention relates to improvements in electricheating devices, and other types of heating apparatus, for instancesteam heaters, and heater guards installed along the base of the insidewall of a railroad passenger car.

Various types of heating apparatus and heater guard devices haveheretofore been used to Warm the air in passenger railroad cars. Suchdevices have produced hot spots on the vertical covering thereof wherethe temperature has ranged as high as 270 F. and have burned passengerslegs and clothing, and melted pocketbooks and womens plastic overshoes.Heating apparatus which have used electric heating elements have beennotably deficient in this respect. Others of such previous devices havefailed to protect the heater elements from foreign objects such aspapers, cigar wrappers, umbrellas and other articles that are likely tobe thrust through the openings in the heater covering.

Accordingly it is one object of this invention to provide means wherebyto overcome the aforementioned deficiencies of previous devices, meanswhereby hot spots are eliminated and the heater elements are protected.Another object of this invention is to lower the temperature of theheater guard without lowering the temperature of the heater elements. Afurther object of the present invention is to increase the stack heightof the heating apparatus within the overall height limitations placed onthe heating apparatus by reason of passenger railroad car constructiondesign. A still further object of this invention is to increase the rateof air flow that passes the heater elements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heatingapparatus of the convector type which will transfer the heat energy froman electric strip heater element to a maximum volume of air with thegreatest degree of efiiciency.

A further object of this invention is to convert electrical energy intoheat energy to heat a maximum volume of air and to provide a maximumflow of unrestricted heated air.

Afurther object of the present invention is to provide a heatingapparatus of the convector type which will foment a natural circulationof air through the heating apparatus to produce the largest volumeof-heated air at a predetermined temperature.v

A still further object of this invention is to provide aheatingapparatus having cover members which are maintained at a moderatetemperature without mechanically moving the air such as by use of fansand similar devices.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the descriptionwhich follows, having particular reference to a preferred embodiment ofthis invention as shown in the drawing, in which:

The drawing is a broken perspective view partly in assaaes section ofone end of the unit mounted along the inside wall of a railroadpassenger car in the corner formed by the juncture of the inside walland the floor of the car.

In the drawing there is shown an inside wall 21 of a railroad passengercar and a floor 22 of that car. A carpet 23 covers part of the floor 22.Mounted on inside wall 21 is a cover guard supporting angle bracket 24which extends horizontally along the side of the car. Afiixed to thecover guard supporting angle 24 by means of screws 25 is a cover guardor enclosure 26. Enclosure 26 is bent to form a first vertical surface27, a first horizontal surface 28, a second vertical surface 31, and asecond horizontal surface 32 attached to the cover guard supportingangle bracket 24. The upper portion of the first vertical surface 27 isprovided with a plurality of elongated slots 33 to form a first airoutlet designated generally by the numeral 34. Similarly, the upperportion of the second vertical surface 31 is provided with a pluralityof elongated slots 35 to form a second air outlet designated generallyas 36. The bottom of first vertical surface 27 is terminated at adistance short of the floor 22 to form an air inlet 37. The bottom edgeof the first vertical surface 27 is turned outwardly from the center ofthe railroad car to form a flange 38 in order to present a smooth curvedsurface to possible contact with a passengers foot or leg. Supportingbracket 41 is bolted to the bottom portion of the first vertical surfaceby bolt 42 and is screwed to the floor 22 of the car by screw 43. Thesupporting brackets 41, only one of which is shown in the drawing, arespaced along the floor of. the car at intervals of about eighteen inchesand together with the cover guard angle supporting bracket 24 serve tomaintain the cover guard or enclosure rigidly in place.

Below the cover guard supporting angle bracket 24 is mounted a U-shapedbracket 44 which is bolted to inside wall 21 by bolts 45 and nuts 46. Abracket 47 is bolted to U-shaped bracket 44 by bolt 48 and nut 51, and abaflle 52 is supported within enclosure 26 between bracket 47' andU-shaped bracket 44 by the bolt 48 and nut 51. A first electric stripheater element 53 is mounted on bracket 47 by nut 54 and bolt 55.Between the head of bolt 55 and the electric strip heater element 53there is provided an insulator 56 and between the electric strip heaterelement 53 and the bracket 47 there is provided an insulator 57. Twoelectric terminals 58 are mounted on the electric strip heater element53 for attachment of wires 59 and 60 that transmit the electric powernecessary to energize electric strip heater element Another bracket 61is bolted to the U-shaped bracket 44 by nut 62 and bolt 63. A secondstrip heater element 64 is mounted on bracket 61 by nut 65 and bolt 66.Between the head of bolt 66 and the electric strip heater element 64there is provided an insulator 67, and between the electric strip heaterelement 64 and the bracket 61 there is provided an insulator 68. Twoelectric terminals (not shown) are provided on the electric strip heaterelement 64.

The baffle 52 is positioned so that its upper edge 71 is contiguous withthe upper portion of the first vertical tween the first heater element53 and the second heater element 64. Then the baflle 52 cuwes downwardlyto pass between the second heater element64and the first verticalsurface 27, terminatingshort offloor 22 toleave an air space 73 betweensaid bafiie 52 and the floor 22.

Similar heater element andbaflle supports are provided at the other endof the heater elements 53 and 64 shown. in the drawing, and a pluralityof heater elements53f and64 are provided along the length ofth'einside-wall 21 of the railroad passenger car.

The operation of this heater and heaterguard will now: be apparent. Inaccordance with the invention cool airg which will lie near the floor22of the railroad passengercar will enter air inlet 37. A portion ofthisair willebe deflected by bafiie 52 to the area surroundingthe first'heater element 53, there to be warmed and deflected by baffie52 to firstair outlet 34 for dischargeinto the car.

The other-portion of the air'from air inlet 37- will pass beneath bafiie52 through air space 73 to the area surrounding the second heaterelement 64, there to be" warmed and then pass along the inside wall 21to second air outlet 36 for discharge into the car.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing thefirst heater element 53 is a 200'watt' electric strip heater of 0.8 wattdensity (watts per square" inch of emittingrsurface), and the secondheater element 64 is an 800 watt electric strip heater of 3.2 wattsdensity;

Thisarrangement of the apparatus as shown-intth'e drawing has manyadvantages. The first vertical surface 27is exposed to the radiant heatof only the smaller capacity first heaterelement 53, since-the bafile 52shields the first vertical surface 27 from the radiant heat emitted bythe larger capacity second heater element 64. This helps to keep thefirst'vertical surface 27 at a moderate temperature. The baffle 52and-air space 72 help maintain the first horizontal-surface 28 at amoderate" rem: peraturc.v

It has been. found that making the enclosure 27 of. aluminum results inlower surface temperatures than when enclosure 27 has been made ofstainless steel.

Supporting the heater elements 53 and 64 on-bra'eketsextending,a-distance away from the inside wall 21 pre-- vents hot spotsfrom developing on the inside wall=21and permits -free passage ofavolumeof air fromsecond heater element to second air outlet 36.

The distance between the second heater element- 64"- and the second airoutlet 36 is referred to inthe art'asther'stack height; Increasingzthestack height increasesthe1stack effect, which is to increase thevolumeof-air-i that-passes thesecond heater element 64 in a certain:time interval. This: increased-volurne-rate of 'air"results* ina lowertemperature of the air'since the'heatemitted by the second heaterelement 64 remainsfixeds Positioning'the second and-larger capacityheater element-64 near the floor 22 of the-car,'and positioning thesecond air outlet 36 near the top of enclosure 26 accomplishes theobject of providing maximum stack height and effect and of heating alarge volume of airto the desired tem- 1 peraturewithout developing hotspots onthe" heating apparatus, including the heater guard.

In the preferred embodimentof the inventionthe elomgated slots-of theair outlets 36 and 34are a /2-inch'- wide and 1% inches high, while theair inlet'37 is 1%{ inches high. These dimensions may be varied somewhatbut it is important to provide air outlets of-=adequate size, for theair outletsize, the bafile 52 and-the stack height combine topermit freepassage of air. and to eliminate the stagnant hot air pockets whichcause hot spots on the, heatingv apparatus.

While I have disclosed a-preferred-embodiment of-tltev present inventionit will beunderstood that various J modifications, including the use ofequivalent means are included within the broad outlines of thepresent-inverts. tion, and it is intended thatsuchmodificationsshallwbez included within the definitionof -the present inventiomassetforth in the appended claims. Forinstance the inlet 37 may be aplurality theelongated slots 33 and 35 forming first air outlet-34' ofelongated slots similar to and second air outlet 36, respectively, andthe baflle 52 may assume more of an S-shape.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Heating apparatus for mounting on the inside wall and floor ofrailroad passenger cars for warming the interior of said railroadpassenger cars, comprising in combination an enclosuretincluding a firstand a second vertical surface and'a'fi'rst and" a secondhorizontalsurface, the second horizontal surface extending inwardly from theinside wall of the railroad. passenger car substantially parallel'to andspaced away from the floor, the secondverticalsurface'textending"downwardly from the inner edge of the secondhorizontal surface substantially parallel to and spaced away from theinside wall, the first horizontal surface extending inwardly from thelower edge of the second vertical surface substantially parallel toandspaced away from the'fio'or and the second horizontal surface, the firstvertical surface extending downwardly from the inner edge of the firsthorizontal surface substantially parallel to the inside wall and thesecond vertiealsurface, th'e first vertical surface having its'loweredgespace'd'away from the floor to forman air inletythe'first verticalsurface having a plurality of elongated slots in the upper portionsthereof to form a first air'ou'tlet, the second vertical surfacehaving'a plurality ofelo'ngated slots in the upper portion thereof toform a second'iairroutl e't; 'a'first'electric strip'heater elementofabo'ut-OJS watt'zdensity mounted' within said enclosure between-thefirst'horizontal surface'and the floor and positioned midway"between thefirst vertical surface and the *insidewall; a second electricstripheater element of about 32 watts density mountedwithin said enclosurebelow-thefirst electric 'stn'pheatcr' element and withinthe-loweronc-third'ofthe'first vertical surface; a curvedbafile'coritiguous to thefirst vertical surface and curvingdownwardlyto'pass between the inside wall and the first electric strip,heater element, then extending substantially horizontallyto' passbetween the first andjthe second electric-strip heater elements, then"extending downwardly to' pa'ssbetween theseco'nd electric strip heaterelement and"the-first vertical surface and terminating short of th'e''fl'oor to*1eave'an air space between said battle and the floor; wherebyto admit cool air through the airinlet, pass aportioniof said'cool airto the area adjacent the fir'sf'ele'ct'rie-strip heate'r'towarm the air,the warm air risingtobedefiectedby said bafile'to said first air outletfor discharge into the railroad passenger carj whereby topass "apo'rtion of saideool air behind said curved battle to 'the areaadja'centthe second electric strip heater to warm the air, said warm air rising.to said second air outlet for discharge into the railroad passenger car;and whereby"tomaintain'said' enclosure at such a temperature-s'o as toprevent burning of passengers and their clothing;

2. Heating apparatus for mounting on the inside wall of 'railroadcars"and the like, comprisinga cover guard having an airinlet formed therein,said cover guard includin'g'a first anda second vertical surface spacedapart from each other and joined together by a connectingsurfa'c'ee'xtending fromthe lower edge of the second vertical surfaceto'the"upper' edge of the'first vertical surface, each-of said verticalsurfaces having an air outlet formed therein; a" first a'nda secondheater element. fixedly mounted and positioned inside" the cover guardand spaced therefromymeans for energizing said heater elements,and-battle= mea'nsmounted'within said cover guard for shieldingthe'second 'vertic'al surface, the connecting surface; and thesecbndheater element from the first heater element.

3 The heatingappatatus defined -:in. claim 2,. wherein-- said firstheaterelement is positioned above said second heater element.

4. The heating apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein References Cited inthe file of this patent said second heater element is of greater heatingcapacity UNITED STATES PATENTS than said first heater element.

5. The heating apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein g i s 'd connectingsurface is substantially horizontal. 5 10 S Sal 1,705,769 Kercher Mar.19, 1929 6. The heatmg apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein 1,986,350Logan Ian. 1, 1935 said cover guard is also provided with a secondhorizontal surface which is joined to the top edge of said secondFOREIGN PATENTS vertical surface. 141,341 Australia May 22, 1951

